State registers 39% growth in alcohol sales this month

The demand for alcoholic beverages during the peak summer has hit a new high this month. The State registered a record growth of 39% in sale of liquor and beer in terms of the sale value.

According to the latest summary report by the Department of Prohibition and Excise, liquor (IML) and beer worth ₹1,720 crore was sold in May against ₹1,238 crore in the corresponding month last year. So far about 32 lakh cases of liquor and 31 cases of beer were consumed.

Krishna district topped by selling 3.30 lakh cases of liquor while East Godavari topped in beer by selling over four lakh cases.

Also in April and May, the State recorded a growth of 19.42% in terms of sale value compared to last year.

“The increase has been expected. It is due to the increase in the floating population to the capital districts and villages during holidays. Also, curbing of the sale of arrack and many unauthorised outlets before the season began helped,” said an excise official.

In February, 1,301 cases had been booked against unauthorised outlets and 1,344 persons were arrested. Under the Navodayam programme, 1,192 cases were booked against arrack makers and sellers and 722 persons were arrested in the same month.